Rebound
Dawud Anyabwile Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018. Third Printing. Hardcover. [2], 414 pages. Illustrations. Signed by the author on the title page. Kwame Alexander (born August 21, 1968) is an American writer of poetry and children's fiction. His verse novel The Crossover won the 2015 Newbery Medal recognizing the year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children." It was also selected as an Honor book for the Coretta Scott King Award. He also won a 2020 Newbery Honor for his illustrated poem The Undefeated. His picture book Acoustic Rooster and His Barnyard Band, was selected for the 2014 "Michigan Reads! One State, One Children's Book" program. This book, written in poetry, is a follow-up to the author's earlier book, The Crossover, a complex tale of the crossover from brash, vulnerable boy to young adult. For his earlier book, The Crossover, the author received the Newbery Medal,, the Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, the New York Public Library Best of 2014, and the Chicago Public Library Best of 2014, among many other awards. Derived from a Kirkus review: In this prequel to Newbery Award–winning The Crossover (2014), Alexander revisits previous themes and formats while exploring new ones. For Charlie Bell, the future father of The Crossover’s Jordan and Josh, his father’s death alters his relationship with his mother and causes him to avoid what reminds him of his dad. At first, he’s just withdrawn, but after he steals from a neighbor, his mother packs a reluctant Charlie off to his grandparents near Washington, D.C., for the summer. His grandfather works part-time at a Boys and Girls Club where his cousin Roxie is a star basketball player. Despite his protests, she draws him into the game. His time with his grandparents deepens Charlie’s understanding of his father, and he begins to heal. “I feel / a little more normal, / like maybe he’s still here, / … in a / as long as I remember him / he’s still right here / in my heart / kind of way.” Once again, Alexander has given readers an African-American protagonist to cheer. He is surrounded by a strong supporting cast, especially two brilliant female characters, his friend CJ and his cousin Roxie, as well as his feisty and wise granddaddy. Music and cultural references from the late 1980s add authenticity. The novel in verse is enhanced by Anyabwile’s art, which reinforces Charlie’s love for comics. An eminently satisfying story of family, recovery, and growing into manhood. Condition: Very good / Very good.
Keywords: Poetry, Basketball, Personal Development, African-Americans, Coming of Age, Charlie Bell, Boys and Girls Club, Grandparents, Death, Loss, Grief, Recovery, Dawud Anyabwile
ISBN: 9780544868137
[Book #79005]
Price: $55.00